2 years later

Thanks to Facebook’s “on this day” app, I was reminded of where I was 2 years ago today. It was the beginning of what was supposed to be my race week at Ironman Florida, but instead of packing and getting ready to race I was adjusting to life back at home following surgery and my revised goal for the week was to get my range of motion on my right knee to 90 degrees (click here to read the post from 2 years ago).

Two years later and I’m finally packing and getting ready to race in Florida. I’m so excited to get out there and give this course all I’ve got. I’ll admit there’s a bit of anxiety as well. Every race is so different and there have been lots of struggles during this training cycle. But for now I’m putting that behind me and looking forward…towards that finish line!

My coach gave me some things to think about last week and one of them was what it means to keep pressing. Among the phrases included in the long definition of pressing are the following:

“Demand immediate action”

“Make strong efforts”

“Forcefully put forward”

“Apply pressure to”

“Continue in one’s action”

Sometimes when things get tough I have a tendency to let up on the gas to endure for the long haul. The pain lessens a bit which makes it a bit easier, but it takes that much longer to get to the other side. But that’s not always the right answer for racing…or for life. For this race I’m going to press on and make strong efforts, I’m going to apply pressure and I’m going to continue forward.

A big thank you to everyone who has been a part of this big long journey to IMFL and to all those who have chosen to support bone tumor research at Emory Medical School–done by the same folks who did my surgery and continue to be a part of Team Koko. There is still time to join with me and give to the cause. Click the following link and you will be directed to the online giving website where the fund is already designated (David Monson, M.D. Research and Education Fund): http://bit.ly/tumorresearch.

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” – Calvin Coolidge